James Thomson (poet): Quotes about nature

James Thomson (poet) was Scottish writer (1700-1748). Explore interesting quotes on nature.

James Thomson (poet): 100 quotes2 likes

“I care not, Fortune, what you me deny;
You cannot rob me of free Nature's grace,
You cannot shut the windows of the sky,
Through which Aurora shows her brightening face;
You cannot bar my constant feet to trace
The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve.
Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace,
And I their toys to the great children leave:
Of fancy, reason, virtue, naught can me bereave.”

James Thomson (poet) The Castle of Indolence

Canto II, Stanza 3.
The Castle of Indolence (1748)

“But who can paint
Like Nature? Can imagination boast,
Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?”

James Thomson (poet) The Seasons

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 465.

“The negligence of Nature wide and wild,
Where, undisguised by mimic art, she spreads
Unbounded beauty to the roving eye.”

James Thomson (poet) The Seasons

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 71-73.

“A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard becomes
Who void of envy, guile and lust of gain,
On virtue still and nature's pleasing themes
Poured forth his unpremeditated strain.”

James Thomson (poet) The Castle of Indolence

Canto I, Stanza 68. (Last line said to be "writ by a friend of the author.").
The Castle of Indolence (1748)

“Whoe'er amidst the sons
Of reason, valour, liberty, and virtue
Displays distinguish'd merit, is a noble
Of Nature's own creating.”

James Thomson (poet)

Coriolanus, Act iii, scene 3; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

“I know no subject more elevating, more amazing, more ready to the poetical enthusiasm, the philosophical reflection, and the moral sentiment than the works of nature. Where can we meet such variety, such beauty, such magnificence?”

James Thomson (poet) The Seasons

Preface
The Seasons (1726-1730)